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Five years ago, in March, 2016, the parliament of Turkmenistan, having cancelled the law which had a little "lagged behind" at that point in time from vital realities «On protection of the atmospheric air», one of the first in the Central Asian region, adopted its revised version. Thus, members of the parliament of the country had legislatively supported the position of president of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov who stated at the 70th session of UN General Assembly that «social and economic development of the states and the planet people cannot be reached without care of environment».

With the request to answer some questions ORIENT applied to Mergen Kepbanov, chief specialist of the Environment Protection and Hydrometeorology Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Protection of Turkmenistan.

- What was necessity of adoption of the revised version of the law?

• The new law «On protection of the atmospheric air» became one of first "signs" of legal regulation of ecological activity within the limits of realisation of the decision of the president of the country «On measures on the further improvement of legislation of Turkmenistan». The decision is essential to update the law on the air protection was in a priority also because the atmospheric air is one of the basic vital elements of nature and public health. Besides, in the new law was necessary to consider requirements of international ecological agreements.

- What changes have been introduced into the new edition of the law?

• Inclusion in the new law of the issue on protection of climatic system as a whole became an important innovation entered by deputies. Now according to the law’s article 32 «… dangerous anthropogenous influence on climatic system» should not be allowed. The basic principles of the new law designate decrease and rationing of harmful emissions, the decision of issues of protection of the atmosphere on a scientific basis, introduction and use energy saving and resource incentive technologies.

“Possibility of obtaining reception the authentic and timely information on a condition of the atmospheric air and also about sources of its pollution” by citizens is also stipulated in the current law. In case of infringement of these norms, according to article 42 of the law, “… citizens have the right to apply to the corresponding organizations for compensation of harm”.

- Whether are the sanctions to infringers provided in the new law?

• According to the new law for air pollution penal and other sanctions are provided. For example, article 42 administrative codes provide responsibility for emission of polluting substances in the atmosphere if the established norms are exceeded. More severe measures are provided by the Criminal code of Turkmenistan.

That is especially important, legislative innovations provide their practical realisation by the concrete department, namely - the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Protection. For this reason services for preservation of environment and ecological control which through a network of the stations observe and estimate the quality of air, were set up.

- What are results of the law in force for the past five years?

• Practical work on realisation of the law shows necessity of acceptance of by laws on regulation of procedure of implementation of the state monitoring of condition of the atmospheric air, inventory of the emissions polluting air, and hotbed gases. Their preparation and acceptance in many respects will raise efficiency of realisation of the new law in practice.

  Eziz ISMAILOV